Board Meeting online using Teams
Wednesday 2nd July 2025, 7:00pm
PRESENT
Board: Stuart Rogers (SR), Jon Darch (JD), Marie Day (MD), Terry Hamlin (TH)
Supporters: Chris Chard (CC), Matt Seaward (MS), Wendy Rowlands (WR), Diane Rowlands (DR), Neil Palmer (NP)
Bristol City: Jerry Tocknell (SLO)
Avon & Somerset Police: Tom Williams (TW)
Apologies: Paul Hunt (PH), Miles Hendy (MH), Dave Clarke (DC), James Nicholls (JN), Jon Watts (JW), Mark Newman (MN), Katrina Watts (KW), Shahan Miah (SM), Alan Payne (AP)
1. Welcome
Chairperson SR opened the meeting, thanking those in attendance, recognising that many people are away during the summer.
2. Matters Arising from Previous Minutes
· Old shirts, programmes for Memories Group. Action JN
· End of season awards: contact Sheridan Robins for photos and Signet Signs for board update. Action SM
· Summer email to SC&T members – to include bar members only message. Action JD
3. Police, Safety & Club Updates
· Oxford Utd home game on September 20th will have to be moved due to Women’s Rugby World Cup fixture taking place at Ashton Gate that day.
· Some issues with MK Dons friendly fixture refunds after that game was cancelled
· Gareth Torpy has left his role as Disability Liaison Officer and Shehan Jayasinghe has a new temporary position to integrate new ticket system
· Mates’ rates likely to apply to first home game with Charlton Athletic
· Parking at Wickes is an issue as they all have to move due to space no longer being available
· No date yet for shirts release
· 120 season tickets cancelled due to people reneging on direct debits
· Gold award, 2nd in Championship and EFL Green award winners
· The home games with Charlton, Birmingham, Swansea will be higher risk category games
· City & Rovers playing home on same day in the New Year not a big issue
· Six have pleaded guilty to the incident after the Blackburn game in January
· Fan who threw a vape at Preston striker Emil Riis in May (now signed for us!) has been identified
· Two arrested at Sheffield Utd play-off semi-final home leg. The City fan got a fine and banning order
4. Other supporter group updates
· Robins Memories events. NP reported that the events were going strong with Marina Dolman attending and Alan Dicks due to attend a future event.
· Busy year coming up with for the Former Players Association with the 40th anniversary of the Freight Rover Trophy win and 50th anniversary of promotion to the First Division.
· Robyns Round is holding a Sip and Paint event on 19th July.
5. Bristol City Women
· Based on analysis from the football club that showed regular losses & half full coaches, SM has recommended that we do not financially contribute to away coaches next season (if the club run them again). SLO advised that club can always put on ad hoc coaches if required.
6. Meeting with BCFC
· Over 100 good quality applications for the Fans Advisory Board. SC&T did feedback about over complicated and long application process, which was not very inclusive and could have dissuaded certain demographics of fans. Six individual seats up for selection alongside fan group representatives. JD will be the SC&T representative, with JN standing in when required. Looking to launch back end of August and first job will be to elect a chair and how the board will operate.
· Good conversation about ticket prices. Hoping for away ticket cap to be introduced by the EFL. Pretty sure that the £20 West Brom pricing resulted from our assertion that a fuller stadium at lower prices is better.
· Clarification that the recruitment team, Manager and Technical Director make recommendations for signings, however, nobody joins or leaves the football club without Jon Lansdown’s agreement. Steve Lansdown involved more at a direction and budgeting setting level.
· Lots of ongoing discussion about how to improve the atmosphere. Remember that the SC&T have pledged £25,000 to implement more standing in the South Stand. The Atyeo stand will be used tactically during the season for home fans
7. AOB
· We regularly reach capacity in the bar with non-members coming in. This is a health and safety issue. Action: SR to investigate getting a door person allocated to the bar entrance.
· SR has purchased a digital photo frame and will deposit it in the bar ready to fix to the wall. Some photos have been loaded and more can be added. Action: JW to arrange installation of photo frame. JD to include appeal for photos in the member’s email.
ACTION POINTS:
1. SR to investigate getting a door person allocated to the bar entrance.
2. JW to arrange installation of photo frame.
3. JD to include appeal for photos in the member’s email.
Minutes recorded via transcript, reviewed and written up by: Stu Rogers on 29th July 2025
Next meeting: Wednesday 6th August 2025